Letter from Schaeffer to Nicolaou on the Salamis head and the Ingot God entrusted to Professor Hundt for restorationClaude Frédéric-Armand Schaeffer

Handwritten: Cyprus 1973 (s/s Nicosia)

30 November 1973

Mr K. NICOLAOU Curator of the Nicosia Museum NICOSIA Island of Cyprus

Dear Mr Curator,

The ingot god of Enkomi-Alasia and the head from Salamis were handed over by me to the Laboratory of the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum in Mainz on 9 November last. Unfortunately Professor Hundt was absent for a series of lectures on the work of his Laboratory which, broadcast on television, referred to the recent visit to Cyprus and Paphos. His collaborators, Dr Ankner and Schaft, as well as the restorer, Mr Lehóczky, who had hitherto dealt with the Cyprus bronzes, were present. On unpacking the precious parcel, they were able to ascertain that the two fine pieces were in perfect condition.

As regards the head from Salamis, they await your instructions. Mr Lehóczky thinks that the condition of the bronze does not allow the head to be restored to its original form. It will be possible to add a certain number of the fragments contained in a small box attached to the head. Mr Lehóczky and the two other collaborators of Professor Hundt think that a plastic cast of the bronze should then be made, on which the original form of the head could be given. They have also asked whether you wish the patina to be retouched, as it has whitish spots which detract from the beauty of the piece. If Professor Hundt's opinion, on his return from travel, should differ from that of his colleagues, he would write to you.

For the ingot god, in the opinion of these same experts, the details of the helmet and costume of the god, as well as the lower part of the legs with the supposed gaiters and the ingot, cannot be brought out without sacrificing the fine light-green patina of the statue. - In one place, on the back, I was shown that the metal under the patina was dark brown in colour. If the patina were sacrificed, the statue would acquire the chocolate-brown colour of the great horned god of Enkomi-Alasia, after its treatment in the Museum Laboratory, and to which, it seems to me, an attempt was made to remedy by applying an artificial greenish patina. I therefore asked that the patina of the ingot god be left intact, and that one simply try to clean the statue superficially, then that a qualitative analysis be made to determine whether it is copper or bronze.

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